Newsletter #158 - Orange Flags
Fleeting Land Art
Last week I purchased eight acres of land immediately adjacent to my home.
The day after I closed, I went out to explore the land’s boundaries, curious to see the lines the surveyor had marked.
Stepping through the trees, I spotted all of the bright orange flags he’d left behind, each one standing out like a small beacon in the wilderness.
Instead of simply outlining the edges, the flags seemed to weave through the landscape, highlighting the natural curves and dips of the terrain.
It was as if the surveyor had taken creative liberties with the land, turning a routine task into something that felt artistic. A fleeting exhibit hidden among the hardwoods and pines.
As I walked along the line of flags, I wondered if he had been inspired by The Gates, that iconic 2005 installation in Central Park by Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
The way the orange fabric had moved with the wind, transforming the park into a flowing, dynamic landscape of color and motion, felt strangely similar to the scene before me now.
Had he seen it? Maybe even walked beneath those bright orange banners himself?
There was something deliberate in the placement of each flag, something almost playful, as if the surveyor had been influenced by that work of art from nearly two decades ago and decided to leave his own, more subtle mark on this small patch of wilderness.
Knowing these flags wouldn’t last forever, I photographed them with quiet reverence, returning over the next few days to capture as many of them as I could.
I wanted to do justice to this ephemeral artistry, preserving the moment before the flags vanished back into the landscape.
This letter is a tribute—not just to the surveyor, but to all the unseen artists who’ve left their subtle imprints on the land, long before I arrived.
As I prepare for my first project on this land, I can only hope to leave behind something as unexpectedly beautiful.
ARE YOU SUBSCRIBED?
If not, hit that button below. This newsletter comes out once a week. The main stories will always be free but you can pay and if you send me your mailing address I will send you something special in the mail.
You can also support this newsletter by hitting the “like” button, or sharing it with a friend.
Thank you.
Zach Vitale only sees red flags.
Kristen Neufeld has no idea how big an acre is.
Oh heck yes, I remember The Gates! That was so rad.
I love this, and congratulations. 8 acres of potential art.